Washington Nationals drop second straight in Milwaukee, 6-0 to Brewers in Miller Park

Anthony Rendon returned to the lineup after missing 14 games, got hit in his first trip to the plate, on the upper arm/ribs on the left side after going on the injured list with a contusion on his left elbow following a hit-by-pitch in Miami last month, and the Washington Nationals’ 28-year-old infielder went and got tossed after arguing a called third strike with two on and two out in 0-0 game in the top of the seventh.

Welcome back, Anthony. And hello again, CB Bucknor. No one missed you.

Meanwhile, Stephen Strasburg dominated the Brewers through 6 1/3, but a hit-by-pitch, back-to-back singles, and a base-clearing double decided this one as the Nationals lost their second straight in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Miller Park, 6-0 final.

Strasburg vs the Brewers: Heading into tonight’s game, Stephen Strasburg was unbeaten in his last three starts with a 1.25 ERA, five walks, 29 Ks, and a .162/.215/.216 line against in 21 ²⁄₃ IP over that stretch, which left him with a 3.45 ERA, 12 walks, 57 Ks, and a .207/.261/.366 line against in seven starts and 44 ¹⁄₃ IP overall this season.

Strasburg struck out six of 13 batters across three scoreless to start his outing against the Brewers in Milwaukee’s Miller Park tonight, stranding two in both the second and third.

He added two Ks in a 1-2-3 fourth (8 Ks from 16 batters) and got an inning-ending 6-4-3 DP in the fifth, after giving up a one-out single, completing five scoreless on 75 pitches, 49 of them strikes.

Strasburg picked up his ninth strikeout (from 22 batters) in a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 sixth which left him at 85 pitches overall.

Strasburg hit Jesús Aguilar with one out in the seventh, and surrendered a single by Travis Shaw in the next at bat, when he hung a 2-2 curve to the Brewers’ third baseman. Orlando Arcia stepped in next and singled through the right side, loading the bases. Eric Thames went down swinging at a 2-2 changeup outside for out No. 2, but Lorenzo Cain jumped all over a center-cut, 95 MPH first-pitch fastball in the next at bat, sending an opposite field grounder by first base for a base-clearing double, 3-0 Brewers. Strasburg out...

Stephen Strasburg’s Line: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 11 Ks, 106 P, 67 S, 5/2 GO/FO.

Houser vs the Nationals: Acquired from the Astros in the 2015 deal that sent Mike Fiers and Carlos Gonzalez to the Astros, Adrian Houser, a 2011 2nd Round pick, made his first start in the majors last month, giving up nine hits and five earned runs in four innings, taking the L in what ended up a 13-5 loss to St. Louis.

Houser was tabbed as the “opener” for this evening’s game with the Nationals, with skipper Craig Counsell explaining that right-hander Freddy Peralta would pitch in the game as well.

Houser tossed two scoreless innings before the Brewers went to Peralta...

Adrian Houser’s Line: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks, 35 P, 22 S, 1/1 GO/FO.

#STOPHITTINGRENDON: Anthony Rendon returned to the lineup tonight after missing 14 games with a left elbow contusion, the result of a hit-by-pitch in Miami on April 20th.

Before he ended up on the Injured List, the 28-year-old third baseman had a .356/.442/.740 line, 10 doubles, six home runs, nine walks, and 15 Ks in 20 games and 86 PAs.

His first at bat back, of course, saw him take a 94 MPH 1-1 fastball off the left upper arm/ribs because that’s just how this season is going to go apparently.

Luckily, he shrugged this one off and took his base, though he was stranded, and as mentioned above, he ended up getting tossed arguing a called third strike with home plate ump CB Bucknor.

BULLPEN ACTION: Freddy Peralta, who’d given up 13 hits (two doubles, four homers), four walks, and 15 ER (27.00 ERA) in five first innings before tonight in 2019, which, obviously, is why the Brewers tried going with an opener in front of him, took over in the third inning and tossed a quick, 11-pitch, 1-2-3 frame.

Wilmer Difo walked and Michael A. Taylor lined a single to left with two out in the fourth, but both runners were stranded as Peralta completed another scoreless frame.

Anthony Rendon grounded into a 6-4-3 DP in the top of the fifth, erasing a one-out bunt hit by Victor Robles as Peralta completed his third scoreless frame.

Peralta worked around a walk in the sixth, completing his fourth scoreless in what was still a 0-0 game.

Stephen Strasburg reached on one-out error and Adam Eaton singled in back-to-back at bats in the top of the seventh inning, in Peralta’s fifth inning of work, but Victor Robles popped up over the infield for out No. 2, leaving it up to Anthony Rendon (0 for 2, HBP), who K’d looking and got tossed arguing the called third strike with home plate ump CB Bucknor.

Bucknor was going to do something like that eventually, because he’s CB Bucknor, but Rendon can’t get himself tossed in a 0-0 game when the Nats are desperate for a win...

After the Nationals fell behind 3-0 when Stephen Strasburg gave up a bases-loaded double in the seventh, Dan Jennings took over and walked the first batter he faced, Christian Yelich, then gave up an RBI single by Mike Moustakas, 4-0, and back-to-back walks to Yasmani Grandal and Ben Gamel forced in run No. 5, 5-0.

Justin Miller gave up an RBI single and the sixth run of the inning, 6-0, before getting out No. 3.

Burch Smith took over for the Brewers in the eighth, and retired the Nationals in order.

Joe Ross tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to keep it ... whatever, 6-0.

Smith came back out in the ninth and retired the Nationals in order to end it. 6-0 final.

Nationals now 14-21